Variable-speed gearing.



PATENTED SEPT. 22, 1903.

G. H. HEATH.

VARIABLE SPEED SHARING.

APPLIUATION mum mm. a; 1902.

N0 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Wiigzsses l r a 1/" in: mass Pains cu. PesoToLwMc" Wmmmou. D. c.

PATEIST'ED SEPT. 22, 1903..

C. H. HEATH. VARIABLE SPEED GEARING-- APPLIQATION FILED DEG. 8' 1902.

2 anus-sum 2."

30 MODEL.

CHHEAT Hiiigesses Patented September 22, 1903.

PAT NT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. HEATH, F FRANKLIN FALLS, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

VARIABLE-SPEED GEARl NG JEECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.739,545, dated September 22, 1903.

Application filed December 8, 1902. Serial No. 134,435. (No model.)

To 60% whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. HEATH, a citizen of the United States,residing atFranklin Falls, in the county ofMerrimack and State of NewHampshire, have invented a new and useful Variable-Speed Gearing, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to variable-speed gearings, and more particularlyto that class particularly applicable to bicycles; and it has for itsobject to provide a device of this nature wherein by operation ofsuitable clutch mechanism the speed of the bicycle may be changed and inwhich, furthermore, the sprocket may rotate forwardly independently ofthe drive-shaft to permit of coasting.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention relate to the detailsof construction and will be evident from the following description.

In-the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in whichlike numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views,Figure l is a plan view of the mechanism as applied to the frame of abicycle, a por-' tion of said frame being brokengaway to more clearlyshow the structure. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the structure shown inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing a portion of thebicycle-frame and the means for'throwing the clutch and shiftable gear.Fig. i is a view showing the clutch mechanism between the sprocket andthe gear mounted loosely upon the crankaxle. Fig. 5 is a sectionthroughthe'loose crank-axle gear and showing the clutch for holding it to theshaft and the clutch for holding the sprocket thereto.

Referring now to the drawings, the bicycleframe to which this mechanismis applied in cludes a crank-hanger or bearing-sleeve of common form andto which are connected the bottom bar 11 and the seat-tube 12, and inthe rear of this sleeve 10 is a second sleeve 13, which is paralleltherewith and from which extend rearwardly and divergingly the tierods14.

In the sleeve 10 is rotatably mounted a crank-axle 15, provided at itsends with cranks 15 and 16, andbetween the crank 15 and the movementlongitudinally thereof. When the clutch-disk is shifted to engage itspins with the gear, said gear is locked to rotate with the shaft, andwhen the pins are disengaged from the recesses the gear may rotateindependently of the shaft.

. In the hub 22 of the-gear referred to, and which extends outwardlyfrom said gear, there are disposed radially-movable pins 23 in radialrecesses, and these pins are held normally and yieldably outwardly bymeans of helical springs 24, disposed in the bottoms of the recessesand. against which the pins are seated. A sprocket-wheel 25 is disposedfor its hub 26 to encircle the hub of the gear and has eccentric arcuateslots o'r recesses in the inner face thereof, into which the pins engageto hold the sprocket against rotation in one direction, While permittingfree rotation in an opposite direction, the free rotation being theforward movement thereof. Thus when the clutch is operated to engage itspins with the gear 20 rotation of the crank axle or shaft will effectforward rotation of the sprocket to propel the bicycle. If, however, thecrank-shaft be held against movement, as in coasting, the bicycle maymove ahead, the sprocket turning freely of' the shaft. Whenthe gear 2.0"is clutched to the shaft 15, the sprocket may be turned with and at thesame speed as the shaft, and at this time the maximum speed is given tothe bicycle. When a hill is to be climbed, a lower gear is of coursedesirable, and for this purpose a counter-shaft 30 is mounted in thesleeve 13, and at one end thereof is fixed a gear 31 in constantengagement with the pinion 17, 5

and at the opposite end of the connter shaft is splined a gear or pinion32, adapted for sliding movement into and out of engagement with thegear 20. The gear 31 is of greater diameter than pinion 17, and pinion32 is of lesser diameter than gear so that if the several pinions andgears be in mesh and the clutch be in its inoperative position rotationof the crank-shaft will effect a rotation of the gear 20' and therewithof the sprocket at a speed greatly reduced from that of the crankshaft.

In orderthat the clutch may be moved into operative positionsimultaneously with the movement of pinion 32 out of engagement with thegear 20, a rocker 35 is pivoted to a bracket 36 on the seat-tube of thebicycleframe, and one end of this rocker has a link 37 pivoted thereto,while at the opposite end is pivoted a link 38. The link 37 is pivotedat its opposite end to the shank of a strap 39, engaged with aperipheral groove 40 in the hub of the clutch-disk, while the link 38 ispivoted to the shank of a strap 41, which is engaged with a peripheralgroove in the hub 42 of the 'pinion 32. The rocker when operated movesthe clutch into and the pinion out of operative position, and viceVersa. To actuate the rocker, a lever 43 is pivoted on the bottom bar ofthe bicycle-frame and its lower end is pivoted to the rocker, while atthe upper end thereof is pivoted a hand-lever 44, which is fulcrumed toa stud 45 on the head 46 of the bicycle-frame. This hand-lever extendsabove the top bar 47 of the frame and is adapted for engagement witharack 48 to hold it at different limits of its movement to hold thegearing in either of its operative positions. I

It will be understood that in practice the specific construction shownmay be modified and that any suitable materials and proportions may beused for the various parts without departing from the spirit oftheinvention. Furthermore, it will be noted that while the presentmechanism is shown as applied specifically to a bicycle it may be usedin connection with a motor-vehicle of any type or in any other sphere towhich it is applicable.

What is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, thecombination with a crank-shaft, agear mounted loosely thereon and asecond gear fixed thereto, of a sprocket carried by the loose gear, aclutch for connecting the loose gear with the shaft, a counter-shaft, afixed gear engaged with the fixed gear of the crankshaft, a second gearsplined to the countershaft for movement into and out of engagement withthe loose gear of the crank-shaft,

and a rocker connected with the clutch and operative positions.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination withadrive-shaft, agear mounted loosely thereon and a second gear fixedthereto, of a clutch for clutching the loose gear to rotate with theshaft, a sprocket upon' the loose gear, a clutch between the loose gearand sprocket and adapted to permit of movement of the sprocket in onedirection independently of the shaft, a counter-shaft, a fixed gearengaged with the fixed gear of the drive-shaft, a second gear mountedfor rotation by the counter-shaft and movable into and out of engagementwith the loose gear upon the drive-shaft, a rocker connected with theclutch and theshiftable gear for moving them alternately into operativepositions, and means for operating the rocker.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. HEATH.

Witnesses:

EDWARD F. PAIGE, FRANK H. DANIELL.

